Impressions of Matrix World In Flames (MWIF)

[paulderynck]

I've noticed in Netplay that when I restore a game, the inactive side is left looking at the map area they last had something to do with, while the new active side starts moving units around. This leaves the inactive side having to scroll over to where the "action" is. FREX in set-up with China inactive and Italy active.

One solution is to define one Map View for the other majors - for each major. Another solution of course is to use the Global Map and click there.

Map Views are fully customizable both in terms of the interface settings like show units or hex control as well as for zoom level.

I certainly understand the issue with using a tablet, but I think many will find that they've barely scratched the surface in terms of the functionality that is available with the Screen Layouts and Map Views. It does take interface experience and careful reading of the manual to gain proficiency though.

[dhucul2011]

I was wondering whether Computer World in Flames will always remain only a simulation of the board game.

As time goes by will the game be updated to include features and systems that are not from the board game but are well suited to the computer version?

I played the board game many moons ago infrequently and I agree that Shannon has made a really good version of this board game on the computer but now that it is here it should morph into a computer product first. In that way it will attract a lot more non-WIF players.

For example, a great feature would be to allow breakdowns to divisions in the combat loss phase instead of just the end of the turn.

If I role a crappy "1" on 2 to 1 assault odds then I shouldn't have to remove two full corps. How about allowing "step" losses by permitting the breakdown of corps into divisions to satisfy the losses.

This would be well suited to the computer version and is an example of types of things that could be added to WIF on the computer as opposed to the board game.

FOW would also be a great feature.

[markb50k]

Given the history of this game, and the fact that ADG is seeming to want to consider this to be simply a computer enable board game, I would doubt you are going to see much stretching of the scope of the product past the board game modules and rules as written(coded). My two cents.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

I've noticed in Netplay that when I restore a game, the inactive side is left looking at the map area they last had something to do with, while the new active side starts moving units around. This leaves the inactive side having to scroll over to where the "action" is. FREX in set-up with China inactive and Italy active.

One solution is to define one Map View for the other majors - for each major. Another solution of course is to use the Global Map and click there.

Map Views are fully customizable both in terms of the interface settings like show units or hex control as well as for zoom level.

I certainly understand the issue with using a tablet, but I think many will find that they've barely scratched the surface in terms of the functionality that is available with the Screen Layouts and Map Views. It does take interface experience and careful reading of the manual to gain proficiency though.

The non-phasing/inactive side should be able to switch major powers to the major power on his side that is 'opposing' the major power currently moving units on the phasing side. For instance, while Japan is moving units, the Allied player should be able to switch to China as his local major power. China should have appropriate Map Views for watching what Japanese units are moving.

[paulderynck]

Back to WiF School for me.

[Ubercat]

Could there be a "snap to" feature, perhaps enabled by a check box? This is useful in many Vassal modules. One players screen snaps to wherever his opponent is moving pieces. As soon as something is moved off-screen, the map view snaps to the new spot. If the non phasing player is making his own plans and doesn't want to be interrupted, he simply disables the feature on his end.

[paulderynck]

There is the solution Shannon stated, or there is defining a Map View. Unlike Vassal, both players cannot move at the same time, and the only time I found "snap to" annoying is when my opponent was moving (or thinking a lot and moving a little) somewhere on the map I wasn't as interested in as where I had been looking.

So if you don't want to keep close watch on what your opponent is doing (even more likely now that MWiF enforces the movement rules), you can switch major powers to one of your own and then use a Map View to study a situation.